GerganaT_ILLUMvibr_PrDesVER02

Illuminating Vibrations
Illuminating
Design Process Journal
Gergana Tatarova
Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
vibrations
Design process journal
PDE 3 Group 2
Gergana Tatarova
PDE3 Group2
Gergana Tatarova

Illuminating Vibrations
Outline
We had to design and construct a musical
instrument to be presented in science
festivals during The Year of Light 2015*. The
instrument should use lasers and should
promote the relationship between Art and
Science. The product might be used for
school presentations to encourage the study
of Science, Technology, Engineering, the
Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) through
demonstration of light based technologies.
*On 20 December 2013, The United Nations
(UN) General Assembly 68th Session
proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of
Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015)
Approach
We were divided in teams and given different
research areas. We had a week to visit relevant
sites, talk to appropriate people, investigate
complex technological concepts. Then we
produced a presentation in order to share all
we found with the other groups and in return
use what they researched.
We had half a day to process the information,
then had to produce 20 concepts per group.
Evaluate them, choose 3 - develop them
further. Chose one - develop, build, develop.
Stakeholders, user experience, safety and
manufacturing processes were taken into
account at every stage.
Research groups
Music Technology
Group 5
Project Launch
Group 1
International Year of
Light
Interactive exhibit for
science museum
Portable kit for
schools/science
festivals
RESEARCH
BANK
What’s been done
Group 6
Group 2
Laser Harp Technology
Performing music
STEM/STEAM
Group 3
Safety & ILDA
Design Process Journal
Gergana Tatarova
Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
My teammates and I researched
different laser harps - framed,
unframed, full-colour; different
strengths laser beams used,
diffraction of beam methods. Midi
controllers, software functions.
Science festivals exhibit safety
requirements, target audience,
portability and power supplies
options.
We talked to Dr Fells, Glasgow Uni
professor, having music and light
related side projects.
The investigation process gave
us a good start into the project
and deepened our interest and
understanding.
Group 4
Each team presentation was very informative and at the same time made attractive to the audience. I learnt a lot of useful and relevant to the project information.
Now it was time to channel it so that we can make best use of it.
PDE3 Group2
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Channelling the new information
Post it!
After each team had given their research
containing presentations, we had to sit
down and process everything we learnt.
My team worked together with Group 1.
We started by writing down on post-it
notes everything we remembered and
made an impression to us.
After a discussion and quite a few more
post-it, we managed to put them into
different categories in order to tidy our
sheet and heads.
Design Process Journal
Gergana Tatarova
Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
Both teams
agreed that
User-centred
design
is our aim.
Timeline of events
We also had to come up with an example
timeline of a day the product is used.
This provoked us to think of possible problems and
solutions we haven’t thought of before
After discussing, brainstorming,
analysing,
discussing,
brainstorming, discussing and
analysing again, together with
Group 1, we had sufficient
knowledge to start coming up
with ideas and generate concepts.
PDE3 Group2
Ready to
generate
ideas!
Ready for the next stage - each team
had to design 20 concepts. Having 4
members in our, we decided to split
the task up and each member to
produce 5 concepts.
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5 Personal suggestions
Concepts generation and evaluation
Design Process Journal
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Group 2 PDE3
1. Triangle using transparent plastic/glass with a laser beam
following the shape. Doesn’t change it’s function, just
appearance.
2. A permanent exhibit in a e.g. Science Museum. Striped
coloured carpet indicating different notes from a scale. Moving
on it simulates playing an instrument. Lasers constantly scan
the room to collect information and produce relevant sound.
3. Performance - a dancer having her costume made out of
safe lasers, dancing in front of curved reflective surface for
bigger effect.
4. Environmental awareness modern art exhibit. Reflective
rubbish (i.e.. aluminium cans, plastic bags and packages) in a
big bowl. A round structure above it with several laser beams
pointed towards the rubbish. The lasers react to music played
- they change speed/intensity/colour.
PDE3 Group2
5. Big laser harp using people to break the beams. They wear
protective hats.
It might be used in a TV show or again a performing rehearsed
act bringing beautiful music in a new manner.
Thinking back...
Am I happy with what I came up?
I remember, while looking at all my classmates concepts,
feeling a bit envious and sad seeing some really clever ideas.,
considering mine pretty trivial.
Getting quite a lot of positive points did make me feel better,
although non of my concepts got to the top 3. I think because
of them not being easy at all to built.
Would it have been possible to come up with with better
ideas?
Maybe... After all of 3rd’s year research and user orientated
aquired knowledge, especially Brian’s lectures, I think I
might have extracted the research better to produce more
appropriate concepts
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Concepts evaluation
Concepts generation and evaluation
Further reflections
Design Process Journal
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Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
After every team had produced their 20, all the concepts were exhibited, ready
for peer evaluation - every student had 3 sticky dots to put on the concept
they liked the most.
It was really interesting to see how many different ideas were generated this
way. I enjoyed that activity - producing the concepts, looking around others,
and receiving dots :)
After it was done, my team and I discussed important criteria for the final
product - we shortlisted 10 concepts which were more relevant and feasible -
they can be seen in the team design folio.
We put them in a table, which we evaluated in different weighted categories
(Portability, Safety, Aesthetics, Interactivity, Novelty, Interest, Feasibility,
Suitability) to choose the most suitable 3 to continue.
Having received my feeback and rereading the brief after the project have finished, I do realise we could
have chosen better evaluation criteria. I agree with the statement that we concentraded more on the
technical side forgetting to put emphasis on the user experience, in contradiction with our initial planning.
We did include Interactivity and Interest, but we should have thought more about different user types in
variety of contexts and based our evaluation table on them.
Top 3 concepts
Although my ideas got the most ‘approval dots’, after discussion and
evaluation, we decided they aren’t the most appropriate in terms of feasibility
and suitability for the project.
After having 3 concepts to choose from, we had a team discussion where we decided to have a day of research about building requirements of each concept. We wanted to have an interesting and
relatively complex prototype, but we did not want to get stuck in something nearly impossible to build regarding the time and facilities we had.
All of us liked the idea of incorporating laser drawing into music. And Christian had already bought the laser, we got some phosphorescent paint and tonic and the effect was pretty cool. We decided
we are building the refraction bowl!
PDE3 Group2
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The journey...
Building the prototype
Design Process Journal
Gergana Tatarova
Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
THE CHOSEN CONCEPT
We experimented with different dimensions.
Took into account the web camera angle
view, the perfect distance from laser to liquid
and from liquid to drawing surface, that will
give us the best diffraction, as well as safety
- we didn’t want to put the laser very high so
that kids would be able to look directly into it.
Christian made a
scaled model of
the prototype,
everyone was
happy with it, and
we decided to
take it full scale!
Cardboard box sections were
good enough to support the
whole structure... and free!
So we started building!
The bowl was vacuum
formed in the workshop
using clear acrylic sheet.
We experimented
with different liquid
and decided to use
Tonic due to its
quinine content effect
together with our UV
laser. And it’s safe!
We played around with
other options as the main
liquid - phosphorescent
paint mixed with water. fun!
but not the best option.
Everyone researched, and we found
the most appropriate software for the
task. Daniel installed and everything
seems to be going great!
It worked!
Fluorescence happened!
Software worked!
Sound worked!
Prototype successful!
Well done, team!
Rest deserved!
Cardboard did the
job! Prototype to
scale, ready and
sturdy as a police
horse.
PDE3 Group2
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Illuminating Vibrations
After successfully building the prototype, as a team we
decided that every member should come up with two final
versions of the product, then evaluate them, merge some of
them and decide on a final one. Always taking into account
human experience and interaction, aesthetics and sensory
design.
Product Development
Design Process Journal
Gergana Tatarova
Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
I decided that round base instead
of rectangular is a smarter option
for an exhibit, since people will
be the same distance from the
centre of it, no matter where they
are standing.
Other team members agreed.
Another suggestion I had was
to incorporate a glove into the
design. This way we can use any
kind of liquid without safety
concerns or any spillage.
The other members preferred
that we keep the contact with the
fluid.
Here are my interpretation of the current prototype,
solution ideas, and my two final product suggestions.
PDE3 Group2
Gergana Tatarova

Illuminating Vibrations
Again, together as a team, we
sat down, discussed everyone’s
suggestions and came up with the
final version of our product.
I came up with the
name and the logo,
but apparently no
one was fan of it.
Plus, it’s supposed
to be neon green
as it represents
the trace left by
the beam, but it
cannot be printed
this way, so it’s
harder to convey
the idea. At least
the name stayed.
The final product
User experience
We all agreed that the last version of the product
looks elegant, but at the same time inviting being
entertaining, and moreover, safe to use.
Beam & Tonic works by shining a low power, safe
laser beam downwards through a fluid onto a
phosphorescent plate. The user interacts with the
liquid thus changing the level of refraction of the
laser beam, resulting in a dynamic displacement
of the laser point on the plate.
The camera records the coordinates of the
moving point at any instant and converts the
patterns into a synthesised tone.
The position might control just pitch and volume
- we call it the basic function. But it might be
connected to an outer source - microphone, el
guitar, and the position then controlling echo or
distortion or anything you want.
Design Process Journal
Gergana Tatarova
Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
We altered the initial dimensions a bit (engineering drawing follows), since most
of the safety issues were resolved by having the acrylic protector shield.
Modularity
It disassembles to three
main components:
-Lower body (containing
camera and fluorescent
surface)
-Bowl with hand cut-outs
-Upper body (containing
laser and batteries)
Beam ’n’ Tonic
PDE3 Group2
Gergana Tatarova

Illuminating Vibrations
Engineering drawing, general assembly & cost
Materials:
1
Design Process Journal
Gergana Tatarova
Illuminating Vibrations
Group 2 PDE3
Laser emitter
& rechargeable
batteries
2
Outer shell
1
Locking ring
2
Hand cut outs
connected to Fluid
bowl
1
Locking ring
2
Materials:
Manufacture, Finishing, Cost
1.Brushed Aluminium sheet 3mm
- rolled, TIG welding, Plasma cutting
2.Transperant Acrylic sheet 3mm
- rolled, Laser cutting, Hot Air Plastic welding£15
- Vacuum formed bowl and cone
£5
3.Other total - £250
£250
3xSpeakers
£75
Total: £790
Camera
£20
+error £10
Laser
£100
Fluorescent paint £10
£800
Raspberry Pi £50
Rechargeable batteries £15
Bolts, Wires etc.
£10
£250
£50
£220
2
2
1
Phosphorescent
plate
Receiver cone
(camera)
Outer shell
Perforation for
sound enhancement
Speakers
Electronics housing
PDE3 Group2
Gergana Tatarova